I think your subject line says it perfectly.

As a fellow adult with ADHD, I have many days where nothing seems to go right--when my find feels like Swiss cheese and everything falls right through. My first reaction usually is to beat myself up, saying things like "I SHOULD HAVE done this," or "I COULD HAVE done that..." And the soundtrack in my head keeps playing one song over and over and over again with the lyrics, "You are so incredibly incompetent!!"

Unfortunately, none of these things are very positive, nor will they help you succeed. When I'm having a bad "ADD day," the thing that helps me out the most is pretty absurd. I simply take a deep breath and say to myself in a corny vaude-ville-type voice, "Well, I guess it's just one of those days...!" (I usually throw in an arm-slinging motion and a Goofy chuckle.) The blatant silliness of my well-used ritual always makes me laugh at what a dork I am, but that laugh helps me get through the day.

Another suggestion to get through "one of those days" is to relax and re-center yourself. Listening to the right kind of music can soothe your frustrated soul. My personal favorite is the piano sonata "Claire de Lune" by Claude Debussy. It works for me every time. Another thing I do is to talk to someone who loves me. Whether it be a family or friend, it is always nice to hear that people love you, often BECAUSE of your ADD traits, not in spite of them.

If you're a self-perfectionist, like I am, it is often easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves. But forgive ourselves, we must! Otherwise, we'll get caught on the vicious cycle of the self-hatred carousel.

So… give yourself a break! Chances are you know that you messed up--you don't need to keep reminding yourself. (Slow-minded people might need to, but not us ADDers) And I find that when I ease up on my mistakes, I am more prepared to handle what's next.

I hope my advice was helpful to you and your journey. The next time you have a bad day, put on a goofy smile and know that tomorrow is another day.

-Katie Scarlet

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I was recently - re-diagnosed. I had add as a kid and honestly thought that I had "grown out of it" :). I am glad I now know why I have had 20+ jobs in 20 current boss that being add does not mean that there is something wrong with me. He is helping in areas I am weak in but when I do something that is such a huge mistake I feel like I've been set back.

Thank you for the feedback and I did call family and ask for pep talk :).

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exactly how your feeling lately too. I am in school actually almost done with it. I am working on being a Surgical technician (OR tech) and I am in the clinical rotation part of it. I am having a tough time with the not everyone teaches they just assume you will pick it up by watching only and their "HALF" spoken instruction...they only partially say something like I should know exactly what they are saying after only 2 months, not even actually. I get this scared feeling that I will screw up and I get those days when NOTHING goes right---I was gloving the surgeon and DROPPED his glove on the floor. I do not discuss my ADD because I know I can work with it...I need people to TALK so I can hear and clearly which would help and to explain what they want. I get frustrated eaily when I dont understand completely. I will say I dont and they will get upset like I dont know how to take direction. I am taking this as my learning process.

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when you are having those days when you feel your mentally have your shoes tied together and can't seem to take a step in any direction,... HOP.

I draw on my SOH. I try to stop and center. I try to think of the one or two (not 10) things that I could immediately do to reduce the stimulis that i am responding to. i put the phone on vibrate, or turn it off completely. I put on headphones and listen to music, I laugh that this is my temporary insanity. some days it works, some days it doesn't.

I even picked up a finger puppet and have it in my visor. Silly I know, but I call my son, my little monkey, and that little monkey reminds me that, when all else fails, he is my inspiration, and I am an excellent daddy. it helps me relax and not feel so overwhelmed at that moment.

I happen to work for myself in construction, was diagnosed about 3 months ago, and haven't had to fire myself yet, but have been late more than a few times (lol), take it easy on yourself and good luck.

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